PhotographyWednesday, July 27th

Photo gallery: sun, dub and Jurassic 5 at Nozstock 2016

Not too big, not too small and never up its own arse, Nozstock: The Hidden Valley is routinely praised for being "like festivals used to be".

The welcome absence of corporately branded bars and sponsored stages, and a line-up that takes you way beyond your Spotify playlist, means this 5,000-capacity festival - held on a working farm just outside Bromyard, Herefordshire - hits that sweet spot.

Among cut fields and rag-tag farmhouses, the boutique festival started life as a family barbecue.

"It was a hazy, optimistic time at the turn of the millennium, when life felt simple and summers were long and full of amusements," said the Nosworthy clan.

Now in its 18th year and run by Herefordshire's answer to Michael and Emily Eavis, Pete Nosworthy and his daughter Ella, Nozstock has held on to its blissed out summer vibes... and casually added a layer of crazy.

The Hidden Valley is never going to be a mecca for Coldplay fans but there’s room for everyone; you didn’t need to know a thing about My Nu Leng, Octo Pi or Professor Elemental to have a blindingly good time.

A willingness to kick up dust and dance with total strangers helped but 2016's heady mix of drum and bass, hip hop, jungle and psytrance with a side of arts, crafts, and comedy ensured three days in a field were as eclectic as ever.

Better known names on the bill included Imelda May, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Goldie, and English rap, grime and dub step legends Foreign Beggars, whose pulsing set on the Garden Stage was littered with sweary declarations of love for all things Nozstock.

Comedians Richard Herring and Henning Wehn packed out the Laughing Stock comedy tent, and the Little Wonderland kids area was home to open air yoga, mask masking and immersive story times, which you need on offer when you've got three-year-olds in tow.

Imelda May played the Orchard Stage on Friday night. Credit: Mike Hale.